Solar air conditioning device

ABSTRACT

A solar air conditioning device includes an inlet assembly, an outlet assembly, a plurality of solar collectors, and a plurality of connecting assemblies connecting the solar collectors together. Each solar collector has a transparent panel and a heat-absorbing set located below the transparent panel. The heat-absorbing set includes a plurality of heat-absorbing units clasped together and divides an inner space of the solar collector into an upper heat-storage cavity and a lower heat-absorbing cavity. Each connecting assembly includes a plurality of connecting units connecting the adjacent solar collectors together and communicating with the heat absorbing cavities of the adjacent solar collectors. Two supporting surfaces are formed at two opposite ends of each connecting unit for supporting adjacent transparent panels thereon. The inlet and outlet assemblies seal two ends of the heat-storage cavity and communicate with two ends of the heat-absorbing cavity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/776,906 filed on Jul. 12, 2007 and entitled “SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE”, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/964,796 filed on Dec. 27, 2007 and entitled “SOLAR AIR CONDITIONER”, and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/964,817 filed on Dec. 27, 2007 and entitled “SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS”. The co-pending U.S. patent applications are assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The disclosures of the above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to air conditioning devices, and particularly, to an air conditioning device using solar energy to heat air.

2. Description of Related Art

With increasing CO₂ emissions, the risk of global climate becoming abnormal and ecological destruction may increase. As a result, industrialized countries have again become aware of the urgency to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels after the energy crisis in the 70's. Therefore, it has become important to develop new environmental friendly energy resources, and to replace devices using non-renewable energy resources, such as air-conditioners, with devices using renewable energy. The conventional air conditioning devices not only need more energy, but also require refrigerant which can be harmful to the environment. Consequently, these countries have given positive commitments to use solar energy more effectively. Though people still have reservations about whether solar energy will be able to replace other energy resources in the near future, one thing that is almost certain is that solar energy will be playing a very important role in a number of fields, especially air ventilation and heating in structures such as buildings and vehicles.

As far as an air conditioning device using solar energy for heating and air ventilation is concerned, solar collectors are a key part in such a device, and it has to be mounted at an outside location where sufficient sunlight can be collected, such as on a roof or wall. In the past, a lot of effort has been made to develop solar collectors with different functions and styles. Many of them have been disclosed in patent literature. The most typical example is fixing a glass panel or transparent panel onto a fixed outer frame of a heat-insulated chamber and passing fluid through black heat-absorbing plates or pipes installed inside the chamber, so as to absorb solar energy. Examples include the solar hot water supply system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,685, the air ventilation facility disclosed in WO 9,625,632, the roof-style air ventilation facility disclosed in U.S. patent application Pub. No. 2002/0032000A1, and the roof-style air preheater disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,338. However, the solar collectors used presently still have some drawbacks. Therefore, there is much room for improvements in applying and promoting the usage of solar energy to save energy and facilitate air conditioning. The aforementioned drawbacks include:

-   (1) The related solar collector is too heavy. Its long-term use may     cause an overly heavy load on the bearing structure. -   (2) Solar-thermo conversion efficiency may be limited. -   (3) The structure of the related solar collector is complicated,     which makes its installation and maintenance difficult and     expensive, and thus prolongs the period for recovering the     investment. -   (4) The related solar heating device has poor compatibility and     flexibility to match different bearing structures. Very often, it     has to be custom-made. -   (5) The contour of the solar collector is obtrusive and often     impairs the aesthete and harmony of the overall appearance of the     bearing structure. -   (6) The packaging needed for the collector takes up much space and     increases the cost of storage, display, and marketing. -   (7) The integral assembly of the whole-unit product is bulky, making     it difficult to use in large-area application and increases     installation cost. -   (8) Glass or transparent panels are glazed onto the outer frame of a     heat-insulated chamber. Different thermal expansion coefficients of     materials may cause thermal stress problems. -   (9) The related design is so complicated as to be difficult for an     untrained user to install. -   (10) Some of the related designs can only be applicable to the     structures which are under construction and designed to allow its     installation. For most existing structures, the designs are     unsuitable. -   (11) When air passes over a glazed panel, heat is dissipated unless     double-glazing is used, but it is expensive and troublesome. -   (12) Hot water supply systems or liquid systems operated by solar     heating experience problems due to freezing and leakage of the     working liquid.

Related solar air conditioning devices include that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,553. Heat-absorbing units of the solar air conditioning device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,553 are connected in a fixed way. However, it is difficult to extend the area of the solar air conditioning device in a convenient way so that the solar air conditioning device can be used in different applications.

It is therefore desirable to provide a solar air conditioning device that can be flexibly extended and used in different applications.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a solar air conditioning device. The solar air conditioning device includes an inlet assembly, an outlet assembly, a solar collector assembly having a plurality of solar collectors, and at least a connecting assembly connecting the solar collectors together. Each of the solar collectors has a transparent panel and a heat-absorbing set located below the transparent panel. The heat-absorbing set includes a plurality of heat-absorbing units clasped together and divides an inner space of the solar collector into an upper heat-storage cavity and a lower heat-absorbing cavity. The at least a connecting assembly includes a plurality of connecting units connecting the adjacent solar collectors together and communicating with the heat absorbing cavities of adjacent solar collectors. Two supporting surfaces are formed at two opposite ends of each of the connecting units for supporting adjacent transparent panels thereon. The inlet and outlet assemblies seal two ends of the upper heat-storage cavities and communicate with two ends of the lower heat-absorbing cavities.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a solar air conditioning device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an exploded, isometric view of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is an assembled, isometric view of a fixing assembly of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an exploded, isometric view of a solar collector of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is an isometric view of a first supporting member and a plurality of bolts of the solar collector in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a heat-absorbing unit of the solar collector in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 5 is an assembled, isometric view of a connecting assembly of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, isometric view of the connecting assembly in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a connecting unit of the connecting assembly in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1, taken along line VIII-VIII thereof;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an inlet assembly of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1, but viewed from different aspect;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an outlet assembly of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is an assembled, isometric view of a solar air conditioning device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, with some parts thereof removed; and

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a connecting unit of the solar air conditioning device in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, a solar air conditioning device 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The air conditioning device 100 includes a solar collector assembly 20, and inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 connected with an entrance (not labeled) and an exit (not labeled) of the solar collector assembly 20, respectively. The inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 respectively communicate with an indoor air-exhausting pipe (not shown) and outdoor environments, in such that stale indoor air is exhausted outside a house (not shown) and fresh outdoor air is induced inside the house.

The solar collector assembly 20 includes a series of solar collectors 30. The solar collectors 30 are assembled together via a plurality of connecting assemblies 40 disposed therebetween. Each of the solar collectors 30 has first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b respectively arranged at left and right sides thereof. Connections between adjacent solar collectors 30 are strengthened via a plurality of fixing assemblies 45. The fixing assembly 45 has two fixing elements 451 which are connected together via a pair of bolts 452 (see clearly in FIG. 2B). Each of the fixing elements 451 has an ear 453 defining a pair of through holes (not shown) therein. Screws 454 extend through the through holes of the ears 453 of the fixing assemblies 45 and the through holes (not shown) of adjacent first supporting members 34 a or the through holes 349 (shown in FIG. 2A) of adjacent second supporting members 34 b, for joining adjacent the first supporting members 34 a or adjacent second supporting members 34 b together. Connections between the solar collector assembly 20 and the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 are also strengthened via the fixing assemblies 45.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3A, each of the solar collectors 30 includes a transparent panel 31 and a heat-absorbing set 32 located below the transparent panel 31. The heat-absorbing set 32 is used for absorbing solar energy to heat air flowing therethrough. The heat-absorbing set 32 includes a plurality of modularized heat-absorbing units 33 (FIG. 4) which are clasped together. The heat-absorbing unit 33 is made of good thermal conductivity materials with black surface.

The heat-absorbing units 33 are clasped together along a latitudinal direction and divide an inner space defined in the solar collector 30 into an upper heat-storage cavity 35 and a lower heat-absorbing cavity 36. A plurality of heat-storage channels 351 are defined in the heat-storage cavity 35, whilst a plurality of heat-absorbing channels 361 are defined in the heat-absorbing cavity 36. When the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 are assembled to the solar collector assembly 20, the heat-storage channels 351 are hermetically sealed and the heat-absorbing channels 361 communicate with the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50. An energy receiving surface 21 covering the heat-storage channels 351 is formed on the transparent panels 31, and a heat-absorbing surface 22 over the heat-absorbing cavity 36 is formed by heat-absorbing plates 331 (FIG. 4) of the heat-absorbing units 33.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 4, the heat-absorbing unit 33 of the solar collector 30 is shown. The heat-absorbing unit 33 includes an elongate bottom plate 332, the heat-absorbing plate 331 above and parallel to the bottom plate 332, and a brace plate 333 integrally interconnecting middle portions of the bottom plate 332 and the heat-absorbing plate 331. The brace plate 333 has an upper portion 3331 above the heat-absorbing plate 331 and a lower portion 3332 below the heat-absorbing plate 331. A height of the upper portion 3331 of the brace plate 333 substantially equals to a height of the heat-storage cavity 35, whilst a height of the lower portion 3332 of the brace plate 333 substantially equals to a height of the heat-absorbing cavity 36. The upper potion 3331 defines a groove 334 extending along a longitudinal direction thereof for receiving a seal gasket (not shown) therein.

In order to connect the heat-absorbing units 33 together, first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312 are respectively formed at right and left ends of the heat-absorbing plate 331, and first and second fastening structures 3321, 3322 are respectively formed at right and left ends of the bottom plate 332. The heat-absorbing units 33 are assembled together via engagements between the first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312 and engagements between the first and second fastening structures 3321, 3322. The first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312, and the first and second fastening structures 3321, 3322 have configurations which complement with each other. The first clasping structure 3311 is a mortise, whilst the second clasping structure 3312 is a tenon for being fitted in a corresponding mortise. The first fastening structure 3321 is a substantially ┌-shaped groove, whilst the second fastening structure 3322 is a fastening protrusion fitted in the ┌-shaped groove. The second clasping and fastening structures 3312, 3322 of a right heat-absorbing unit 33 are respectively engaged in the first clasping and fastening structures 3311, 3321 of an adjacent left heat-absorbing unit 33, so that the adjacent left and right heat-absorbing units 33 are assembled together. The heat-absorbing unit 33 is made of thin plate and handy for being displayed, packaged, stored, transported and assembled.

Particularly referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b have a same structure and each includes an elongate horizontal bottom base 342, a supporting plate 343 perpendicularly and upwardly extending from a middle portion of the bottom base 342, and a heat-absorbing plate 341 horizontally and inwardly extending from a middle portion of the supporting plate 343 orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32. The bottom bases 342 of the first and second supporting member 34 a, 34 b respectively define a plurality of mounting holes 347 in an outer portion 344 thereof, for mounting the solar collector 30 onto a rooftop or a wall of a house, or an additional fixing board (not shown). Front and rear ends of the supporting plates 343 of the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b respectively define the through holes 349 (shown in FIG. 2A) therein, corresponding to the through holes defined in the ears 453 of the fixing elements 451 of corresponding fixing assemblies 45. Thus, the bolts 454 can connect the corresponding fixing assemblies 45 and the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b together.

The heat-absorbing plates 341 of the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32 respectively form a first and second clasping structures 3411, 3412, and the bottom bases 342 of the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32 respectively form a first and second fastening structures 3421, 3422 thereon. The first clasping and fastening structures 3411, 3421 of the first supporting member 34 a respectively engaged with the second clasping and fastening structures 3312, 3322 of a leftmost heat-absorbing unit 33 of the heat-absorbing set 32, so that the first supporting member 34 a is connected to a left side of the heat-absorbing set 32. The second clasping and fastening structures 3412, 3422 of the second supporting member 34 b respectively engage with the first clasping and fastening structures 3311, 3321 of a rightmost heat-absorbing unit 33 of the heat-absorbing set 32, so that the second supporting member 34 b is connected to a right side of the heat-absorbing set 32.

Each of the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b, at an upper portion thereof, defines a recess 345 extending along a longitudinal direction and orienting to the heat-absorbing set 32 for providing an insertion of a side of the transparent panel 31. A plurality of fixing holes 346 are defined in a top plate (not labeled) of each of the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b, communicating with a corresponding recess 345. When the heat-absorbing units 33, the transparent panel 31 and the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b are to be assembled together, two opposite right and left sides of the transparent panel 31 orienting to the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b are first covered with U-shaped soft pads 321 and then inserted into the recesses 345 of the first and second supporting members 34 a, 34 b. Steel bars 322 are inserted into space between the top plates of the two supporting members 34 a, 34 b and the U-shaped soft pads 321. A plurality of screws 323 are inserted through the fixing holes 346 of the two supporting members 34 a, 34 b to abut against the steel bar 322, so that the U-shaped soft pads 321 together with the sides of the transparent panel 31 are securely attached in the recesses 345 to prevent water from entering into the solar collector 30. Front and rear ends of the transparent panel 31 are also covered with U-shaped soft pads 321.

The seal gaskets are discretely received in the grooves 334 in the tops of the brace plates 333 of the heat-absorbing units 33 and contact with the transparent panel 31. The seal gaskets extend along a longitudinal direction of the brace plates 333 for evenly supporting the transparent panel 31 on the heat-absorbing units 33. A plurality of air gaps (not shown) are formed between the heat-absorbing unit 33 and the transparent panel 31 at positions without the seal gaskets. The air gaps communicate the heat-storage channels 351 with each other in such that air in the heat-storage cavity 35 is evenly heated and the heat transfer capability of the solar air conditioning device 100 is increased.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the connecting assembly 40 includes a plurality of connecting units 41, an elongate locking bar 43 and an elongate pressing plate 44. Each of the connecting units 41 is a single piece and includes a base plate 414, a hollow rectangular body 423 perpendicularly and upwardly extending from a top surface of the base plate 414, two hollow upper connecting blocks 411 respectively extending outwardly from upper portions of front and rear ends of the body 423, and two hollow lower connecting blocks 412 respectively extending outwardly from lower portions of the front and rear ends of the body 423. The upper connecting block 411 has a configuration which matches with a configuration of the heat-storage channel 351 of the heat-storage cavity 35, whilst the lower connecting block 412 has a configuration which matches with a configuration of the heat-absorbing channel 361 of the heat-absorbing cavity 36. A flat supporting surface 417 (i.e., a top surface of the upper connecting block 411) is formed at a top portion of the upper connecting block 411 for supporting the transparent panel 31 thereon. The upper and lower connecting blocks 411, 412 define upper and lower air passages 415, 416 therein, respectively. In this embodiment, the upper air passages 415 of the two upper connecting blocks 411 of the front and rear ends of the connecting unit 41 communicate with each other through the upper portion the body 423, whilst the lower air passages 416 of the two lower connecting blocks 412 of the front and rear ends of the connecting unit 41 communicate with each other through the lower portion of the body 423. In other embodiment, the upper air passages 415 of the two upper connecting blocks 411 at the front and rear ends of the connecting unit 41 can be isolated from each other by a partition plate (not shown) formed in the body 423.

A first gap 418 is defined between the upper and lower connecting blocks 411, 412, receiving a front or a rear end of the heat-absorbing plate 331 of the heat-absorbing unit 33 therein. Two receiving grooves 419 are defined in a bottom portion of the upper connecting block 411 and a top portion of the lower connecting block 412 respectively, receiving ends of engaged first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312 of adjacent left and right heat-absorbing units 33 therein. A second gap 420 is defined between the lower connecting block 412 and the base plate 414, receiving a front or rear end of the bottom plate 332 of the heat-absorbing unit 33 therein. A receiving groove 422 is defined in a bottom portion of the lower connecting block 412, receiving ends of engaged first and second fastening structures 3321, 3322 of adjacent left and right heat-absorbing units 33 therein.

The elongate locking bar 43 is inverted T-shaped and discretely defines a plurality of fixing holes 433 therein. An elongate groove 413 is defined in a top portion of the body 423 and extends along a latitudinal direction of the body 423 for receiving the elongate locking bar 43 therein. A transverse section of the elongate groove 413 is inverted T-shaped and a width of a top portion of the elongate groove 413 is smaller than a width of a bottom portion thereof; thus, the elongate locking bar 43 received in the elongate groove 148 can not be disassembled from the body 423 of the connecting unit 41 along a vertical direction. The elongate pressing plate 44 has an n-shaped configuration and defines therein a plurality of through holes 442 corresponding to the fixing holes 433 of the elongate locking bar 43. The elongate pressing plate 44 includes a flat top portion and two side portions extending perpendicularly and downwardly from two opposite sides of the flat top portion. Two elliptical protrusions 441 are formed at bottom ends of the two side portions of the elongate pressing plate 44 for engaging with the transparent panel 31 mounted on the supporting surfaces 417 of the upper connecting blocks 411 of the connecting units 41.

When components of the solar air conditioning device 100 are assembled together, the heat-absorbing sets 32 of adjacent front and rear solar collectors 30 are connected by the connecting units 41 of the connecting assembly 40. The upper and lower connecting blocks 411, 412 of the connecting units 41 are received in the heat-storage channels 351 of the heat-storage cavity 35 and the heat-absorbing channels 361 of the heat-absorbing cavity 36 of the solar collectors 30, respectively. The heat-storage cavities 35 of the adjacent front and rear solar collectors 30 communicate with each other by the upper air passages 415 of the connecting units 41, whilst the heat-absorbing cavities 36 of the adjacent front and rear solar collectors 30 communicate with each other by the lower air passages 416 of the connecting units 41. The heat-absorbing plates 331 and bottom plates 332 of adjacent front and rear heat-absorbing units 33 are received in the first and second gaps 418, 419 of the connecting units 41, respectively. Furthermore, a plurality of seal gaskets 325 (FIG. 8) are arranged in the first and second gaps 418, 419 to improve hermetical and waterproof performance between the solar collectors 30 and connecting assemblies 40.

Referring to FIG. 8, after the heat-absorbing sets 32 and the connecting units 41 are connected together, the transparent panels 31 with the U-shaped soft pads 321 arranged at left and right sides and front and rear ends thereof are placed on the supporting surfaces 417 of the connecting units 41. The elongate locking bar 43 is received in the elongate grooves 413 of the connecting units 41. The elongate pressing plate 44 is placed above the bodies 423 of the connecting units 41. A plurality of bolts 324 extend though the through holes 442 of the elongate locking bar 43 and are thread into the fixing holes 433 of the elongate locking bar 43. The elliptical protrudes 441 of the fixing member 142 covered with C-shaped cushions 326 abut against the front and rear ends of transparent panels 31 covered with the U-shaped soft pads 321 to keep the transparent panels 31 hermetically connecting with the connecting units 41. A plurality of washers 327 are disposed around the bolts 324 to improve hermetical performance between the transparent panels 31 and the connecting units 41.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 9 and 10, the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 of the present solar air conditioning device 100 are shown. The inlet assembly 10 includes a hollow rectangular shaped housing 18, an L-shaped baffle 11 extending from a top surface at a position adjacent to a rear side of the housing 18. A plurality of threaded holes 111 are defined in the baffle 11. A receiving slot 12 is formed between the top surface of the housing 18 and the baffle 11, hermetically receiving a front end of a front-most transparent panel 31 therein. The housing 18 includes a rear spacing plate 13 which defines a plurality of air passages 131 in a lower portion thereof. The air passages 131 are separated from each other and are evenly distributed in the spacing plate 13. A plurality of fixing plates 14 with mounting holes 141 therein are perpendicularly arranged on the spacing plate 13. A plurality of screws (not shown) extend through the mounting holes 141 of the fixing plates 14 of the inlet assembly 10 and mounting holes 335 (shown in FIG. 4) of the heat-absorbing units 33 of the front-most solar collector 30, fixing the inlet assembly 10 and the solar collector set 32 together. The housing 18 of the inlet assembly 10 further includes two arms 15 horizontally and outwardly extending from left and right sides thereof. The arms 15 each define a pair of fixing holes 151 therein, for mounting the solar air conditioning device 100 onto the rooftop or the wall of the house, or onto the fixing board. The housing 18 of the inlet assembly 10 has a rectangular shaped joint 60 disposed at a middle portion of a front side thereof. The joint 60 connects the inlet assembly 10 of the solar air conditioning device 100 to the air-exhausting pipe.

The outlet assembly 50 has a housing 58, a baffle 51, threaded holes 511, a receiving slot 52, a spacing plate 53, air passages 531, fixing plates 54, mounting holes 541, arms 55 and fixing holes 551 similar to those of the inlet assembly 10. The difference between the inlet assembly 10 and the outlet assembly 50 is: a top surface of the housing 58 of the outlet assembly 50 defines a plurality of spaced openings 56 therein, communicating an inner space of the outlet assembly 50 to the outdoor environments. The outlet assembly 50 has a substantially L-shaped rain cover 57 extending from a front end of a top surface of the housing 58 so as to cover the openings 56 of the housing 58. Furthermore, a plurality of defenses (not shown) can be disposed on the housing 58, for preventing foreign articles and contaminants such as dust, dirt or mosquitoes from entering into the housing 58. When the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 are assembled to the solar collector assembly 20, top portions of the spacing plates 13, 53 of the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 hermetically seal front and rear ends of the heat-storage cavities 35 of the solar collector assembly 20, whilst the air passages 131, 531 of the inlet and outlet assemblies 10, 50 communicate with the heat-absorbing cavities 36 of the solar collector assembly 20. Therefore, the stale indoor air evenly enters into the heat-absorbing cavities 36 and increases heat-absorbing efficiency of the solar air conditioning device 100. In order to decrease air resistance, a total area of the air passages 131, 531 is preferably twice as large as a cross-sectional area of an inner hole of the air-exhausting pipe.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a second embodiment of the present solar air conditioning device and a connecting unit 71 of this embodiment are shown. Differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment are explained below. The connecting assembly in this embodiment includes a plurality of connecting units 71 and two rigid pressing bars 74. Each of the connecting units 71 is a single piece and includes a substantially rectangular joining base 711, a rigid top plate 713 above the joining base 711, and a supporting plate 714 connecting between the joining base 711 and the top plate 713. The joining base 711 includes a bottom plate 721, two joining plates 722 perpendicularly and upwardly extending from left and right sides of the bottom plate 721, and two supporting arms 716 integrally connected between top ends of the two joining plates 722. Each supporting arm 716 forms a flat supporting surface at a top portion thereof for supporting the transparent panel 31. Two pairs of installing holes 712 are defined in front and rear ends of each of the joining plates 722, respectively. The joining base 711 has a cross section which matches with a cross section of the heat-storage channel 351 of the heat-storage cavity 35. A rectangular indent 715 is formed at a bottom surface of the bottom plate 721 of the connecting unit 71. The rectangular indent 715 has a configuration which matches with the assembled first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312, so that the bottom surface of the connecting unit 71 can hermetically contact with a top surface of the assembled first and second clasping structures 3311, 3312. The supporting plate 714 is located between the supporting arms 716 and the top plate 713. A height of the supporting plate 714 provides a mounting height between the transparent panel 31 and the heat-absorbing unit 33. The top plate 713 and the supporting plate 714 have a vertical indent 718 and an extrusion 717 matching with the vertical indent 718. The extrusion 717 of a left connecting unit 71 is received in the vertical indent 718 of a right connecting unit 71, thereby connecting the adjacent connecting units 71 together. The top plate 713 further defines two thread holes 719 at a middle portion thereof. The two thread holes 719 are located at front and rear sides of the supporting plate 714 respectively.

In assembly of the solar collector assembly, the connecting units 71 are inserted into front and rear ends of the heat-storage channels 351 of two connected heat-absorbing units 33, with outer surfaces of the connecting units 71 abutting against the upper portions 3331 of the brace plates 333 and the installing holes 712 of the connecting units 71 aligning with the mounting holes 335 of the heat-absorbing units 33. A plurality of bolts (not shown) extend through the installing holes 712 and the mounting holes 335 of the connecting units 71 and the heat-absorbing units 33 to thereby connecting the connecting units 71 and the heat-absorbing units 33 together. Then, the pressing bars 74 and the transparent panels 31 with U-shaped soft pads 321 arranged at right and left sides and front and rear ends thereof are inserted into two latitudinal slots 720 formed between the top plates 713 and the supporting arms 716 of the connecting units 71. A plurality of bolts 73 are threaded into the thread holes 719 of the top plates 713 of the connecting units 71, urging the pressing bars 74 to move downwardly and have intimate contacts with the U-shaped soft pads 321. The U-shaped soft pads 321 are therefore intimately sandwiched between the top plates 713 of the connecting units 71, the transparent panel 31 and the supporting arms 716 of the connecting units 71, hermetically sealing the front and rear ends of the solar collectors 30.

Referring to FIG. 12, the connecting unit 71 has a partition plate 723 below the supporting arms 716 and integrally connecting the supporting arms 76 with a middle portion of the base plate 721. When components of the solar air conditioning device are assembled, the partition plates 723 separate the heat-storage cavities 351 of the heat-absorbing units 33 of adjacent front and rear solar collecting sets 32 from each other. Alternatively, the partition plates 723 can also be canceled or be cut through so that the heat-storage cavities 351 of the adjacent front and rear solar collecting sets 32 can communicate with each other.

In summer, the solar air conditioning device can heat the stale indoor air guided from the air-exhausting pipe and expel the heated stale indoor air out of the housing using thermal buoyancy effect. At the same time, cool and fresh outdoor air can be guided into the house, or the outdoor air can be cooled and guided into the house through other devices (not shown) or channels (not shown). Thus, in summer, air in the house can be kept fresh and cool all the time.

In winter, air through the air-exhausting pipe can be heated in the solar collector assembly of the solar air conditioning device and guided back to the house via a fan (not shown) connected with the air-exhausting pipe. Furthermore, when the fresh outdoor air is guided to mix with air in the air-exhausting pipe and further heated in the solar collector assembly, the inlet assembly 10 should communicate with the air-exhausting pipe and the passages 131 of the housing 18 of the inlet assembly 10 should be opened. The fan draws the fresh outdoor air through the solar air conditioning device to the house.

The solar air conditioning device can be installed with a hot water supply system (not shown) which can operate year-round. A plurality of heat-absorbing water pipes (not shown) are arranged in the heat-storage cavities of the solar air conditioning device; then, heated water is transferred back to a water circulation circuit (not shown) including a heat storage tank (not shown). Meanwhile, air is heated in the heat-absorbing channels of the solar air conditioning device.

The solar air conditioning device continuously induces the stale indoor air to evenly enter into the heat-absorbing channels of the heat-absorbing cavity through the inlet assembly. The stale indoor air is heated in the heat-absorbing cavity and is exhausted out of the housing under thermal buoyancy effect. Meanwhile, the fresh outdoor air is induced into the housing. The solar air conditioning device is therefore good for health, for energy saving and for environmental protection.

In the present solar air conditioning device, the heat-absorbing units of the solar collectors are joined to form the solar collector assembly via the connecting assemblies. Therefore, the solar air conditioning device can be flexibly expanded as desired to most optimal absorption surface area to fully absorb and collect solar energy, which strengthens the thermal buoyancy effect of the solar air conditioning device. Air circulation in the solar air conditioning device is therefore improved due to the strengthened thermal buoyancy effect. Furthermore, the heat-absorbing plates, the connecting plates and other individual components of the solar air conditioning device can be separately assembled together, which simplifies the assembly and further decreases the assembly cost of the solar air conditioning device. In addition, the solar collector assembly can be divided into many pieces, which can be individually repaired. Thus, the reparation of the solar air conditioning device is simplified and the reparation cost of the solar air conditioning device is decreased.

One special feature of the solar air conditioning device is that although it only has one layer of transparent panel in its structure, because most air goes through the lower heat-absorbing cavities, the solar air conditioning device has the excellent thermal insulation effect of a double-glazed system and a very high heat-absorption efficiency.

The solar air conditioning device is designed according to a modular concept. Cost of the solar air conditioning device is greatly reduced because the components are made of thin boards and plates, and are suitable for mass-production. The solar air conditioning device is much simpler than related assemblies with a whole-unit design. The assembly not only saves expenses in packaging but also requires less room for display and storage to make channel marketing much easier. The solar air conditioning device is very easy to install and maintain. Moreover, users can install and assemble the system by themselves.

All in all, the solar air conditioning device is a passive environmental protection air conditioner which is driven by solar energy. There is no need to consume electric energy and no environmental destroy caused by refrigerant. The solar air conditioning device exhausts the stale indoor air out of the house and induces the fresh outdoor air into the house. Therefore, the quality of the indoor air is improved and a comfortable feeling is obtained. Moreover, the modularized components benefit the solar air conditioning device for being displayed, packaged, stored, transported and assembled. Furthermore, the components of the solar air conditioning device are thin and are handy for DIY assembly, which fits for the environmental protection and DIY trends.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A solar air conditioning device comprising: an inlet assembly; an outlet assembly; a solar collector assembly disposed between and interconnecting the inlet assembly and the outlet assembly, the solar collector assembly comprising a plurality of solar collectors each of which has a transparent panel and a heat-absorbing set located below the transparent panel, the heat-absorbing set comprising a plurality of heat-absorbing units clasped together, the heat-absorbing units dividing an inner space of the solar collector into an upper heat-storage cavity and a lower heat-absorbing cavity, the inlet and outlet assemblies sealing two ends of the upper heat-storage cavities and communicating with two ends of the lower heat-absorbing cavities; and at least a connecting assembly disposed between adjacent solar collectors, the at least a connecting assembly comprising a plurality of connecting units, the connecting units connecting the adjacent solar collectors together and communicating with the lower heat absorbing cavities of the two adjacent solar collectors, two supporting surfaces being formed at two opposite ends of each of the connecting units for supporting adjacent transparent panels thereon.
 2. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting unit comprises a body, two upper connecting blocks respectively extending outwardly from two opposite sides of an upper portion of the body, and two hollow lower connecting blocks respectively extending outwardly from the two opposite sides of a lower portion of the body, the upper and lower connecting blocks being received in the upper heat-storage cavities and the lower heat-absorbing cavities of the adjacent solar collectors respectively.
 3. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper and lower connecting blocks respectively define upper and lower air passages therein, the lower air passages of the two hollow lower connecting blocks communicating with each other, the upper air passages of the two upper connecting blocks communicating with each other or being isolated from each other.
 4. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the heat-absorbing unit comprises an elongate bottom plate, a heat-absorbing plate above the bottom plate, and a brace plate connecting the bottom plate and the heat-absorbing plate, the brace plate having an upper portion above the heat-absorbing plate and a lower portion below the heat-absorbing plate, the heat-absorbing plates of adjacent heat-absorbing units of the heat-absorbing set engaging with each other via first and second clasping structures formed at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of heat-storage channels being defined in the heat-storage cavity and a plurality of heat-absorbing channels being defined in the heat-absorbing cavity, the upper and lower connecting blocks being received in the heat-storage channels and heat-absorbing channels of the adjacent solar collectors, respectively.
 5. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a first gap is defined between the upper and lower connecting blocks for receiving an end of the heat-absorbing plate of the heat-absorbing unit therein, and a second gap is defined between the lower connecting block and a base plate of the connecting unit for receiving an end of the bottom plate of the heat-absorbing unit therein.
 6. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein receiving grooves are defined in two opposite ends of the connecting unit for receiving engaged fist and second clasping structures and engaged first and second fastening structures of adjacent heat-absorbing units therein.
 7. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least a connecting assembly further comprises an elongate locking bar and an elongate pressing plate, an elongate groove being defined in a top portion of the body of each of the connecting units for receiving the elongate locking bar therein, the pressing plate being placed over the bodies of the connecting units of the at least a connecting assembly and connecting with the locking bar by a plurality of bolts.
 8. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pressing plate has an n-shaped configuration and comprises a top portion and two side portions extending downwardly from two opposite sides of the top portion, two protrudes being formed at bottom ends of the two side portions of the pressing plate, the supporting surfaces of the connecting unit being formed by the top surfaces of the upper connecting blocks of the connecting unit, ends of adjacent transparent panels being placed on the top surfaces of the upper connecting blocks, the two protrudes of the pressing plate abutting against the ends of the adjacent transparent panels.
 9. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the connecting units comprises a joining base, a top plate above the joining base, and a supporting plate connecting between the joining base and the top plate, the joining bases of the connecting units being received in the upper heat-storage cavities of the adjacent solar collectors, two opposite ends of joining bases connecting with heat-absorbing units of adjacent solar collector respectively, ends of the adjacent transparent panels being arranged between the joining bases and top plates of the connecting units.
 10. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the joining base comprises a bottom plate, two joining plates upwardly extending from two opposite sides of the bottom plate and two supporting arms connected between top portions of the two joining plates, the supporting surfaces being top surfaces of the supporting arms, ends of the adjacent transparent panels being placed on the top surfaces of the supporting arms, the at least a connecting assembly further comprising two pressing bars inserted in slots formed between the top plates and the supporting arms at two opposite ends of the connecting units, a plurality of bolts extending through top plates of the connecting units and abutting against the pressing bars to press the ends of the adjacent transparent panels.
 11. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the connecting units comprises an indent defined in one side and an extrusion formed at an opposite side, the extrusion of one connecting unit being received in the indent of an adjacent connecting unit for connecting the adjacent connecting units.
 12. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat-absorbing unit comprises an elongate bottom plate, a heat-absorbing plate above the bottom plate, and a brace plate connecting the bottom plate and the heat-absorbing plate, the brace plate having an upper portion above the heat-absorbing plate and a lower portion below the heat-absorbing plate, the heat-absorbing plates of adjacent heat-absorbing units of the heat-absorbing set engaging with each other via first and second clasping structures formed at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of heat-storage channels being defined in the heat-storage cavity and a plurality of heat-absorbing channels being defined in the heat-absorbing cavity, the connecting bases being received in the heat-storage channels of the adjacent solar collectors.
 13. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solar collector comprises first and second supporting members at opposite sides thereof, the first and second supporting members engaging with two opposite outmost heat-absorbing units, respectively.
 14. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the first and second supporting members defines a recess for insertion of the transparent panel thereinto.
 15. The solar air conditioning device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a plurality of fixing assemblies each of which comprising two arms, the arms of the fixing assemblies being respectively fixed to adjacent solar collectors, adjacent inlet assembly and solar collector, and adjacent solar collector and outlet assembly, joining the inlet assembly, the outlet assembly and the solar collectors together. 